Gansler Announces Conviction of Former City Public Works Employee

Baltimore, MD (Nov. 21, 2013) – Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Walter Bernard Jones, 47, of Baltimore, pled guilty in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to one count of felony theft scheme having a value of at least $10,000, but less than $100,000. Judge Lynn Stewart Mays sentenced the defendant to 3.5 years in jail, suspending all but 18 months, placed him on five years’ probation and ordered him to pay $15,255 in restitution.

“This punishment fits the crime,” said Attorney General Gansler. “This individual attempted to get benefit payments he didn’t deserve, and now he’ll pay a steep price for these actions.”
An investigation revealed that from February 26, 2009, through November 28, 2010, Jones, then an employee at the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, sent fraudulent documents to his insurance company, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), in support of fictitious claims seeking benefits for accidents that allegedly occurred at home. Jones filed 13 separate claim forms alleging he was unable to work due to these accidents. However, documents in support of these claims were fraudulently submitted by the defendant. As a consequence of these fictitious claims, Aflac issued a series of benefit checks totaling $15,225 payable to Jones.
The conviction follows a joint investigation by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Gansler thanked the Maryland State Police for their assistance in this case.